Ceremony of the Keys – An amazing experience at the Tower of London
There is one exclusive ceremony in London that, with prior planning, anyone can experience. That event is the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London.
This ceremony has been performed daily for around seven hundred years. Originally a very practical event, where the Tower was locked every evening, it is now a very private ceremony. The ceremony has in fact never been photographed. (There are one or two photographs that have been taken, but those were of practice ceremonies.) It takes just around five to ten minutes, and is really quite simple.
A Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) meets the Tower’s military guard, is escorted to the Tower Gates, where the Yeoman Warder locks the entrance. Upon return to the main part of the tower the party is challenged by yet another guard. Upon proper response, the party then goes to the central area of the tower where Last Post is played.
A small group of people are able to watch this ceremony each evening. You must apply in writing two to three months in advance, with all of the details of the people that would like to attend. This, along with a self-addressed envelope (and appropriate stamps… British stamps or International Coupons) should hopefully reserve you tickets.
I can’t express just how fascinating experience seeing the Ceremony of the Keys was for me. It takes place just before 10pm, when that part of London is incredibly dark and quiet. Then seeing this ceremony take place in the same place with the same cobbled stone walk and castle walls that it has done for seven hundred years is just incredible. I highly, highly recommend it if you’re able to plan it ahead of time!
When I saw the Ceremony of the Keys, it was part of the most amazing night I’ve ever had in my years here in London. I, along with people I worked with, were invited for a private tour of the Tower before the Ceremony of the Keys, and then dinner and drinks with some of the Yeoman Warders afterwards at their private pub on the Tower grounds. (Interesting side note: the Yeoman Warder that locks up the gates as part of the Ceremony of the Keys is the duty Yeoman Warder, which also means that he works the pub for the evening!) Meeting, talking, and drinking with the amazing and men that are the Yeoman Warders and the military guard (along with seeing the Ceremony of the Keys), made for the most unforgettable evening I’ve ever spent in London. It’s probably why I recommend the experience so highly!
Would you like to see the Ceremony of the Keys? Get all the details you need by going to the Tower of London website here.
4 Comments
That sounds like a great experience! I love the history of the Tower and will definitely keep this in mind if we ever manage a visit across the pond!
It was absolutely fantastic. The whole drinking at their private pub was a one-time (and very rare) invitation, but the Ceremony of the Keys alone is worth the effort getting tickets! It’s really a very unique experience… nothing like anything else you may do in London.
Hi,
Can you please give my name in the photo credit? I appreciate it.
Thank you,
Matt Carman
Hi, Matt. My apologies for that… just edited the credit to include your name. Great photo!